New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Fisco Deepsalm’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea  Impatiens  plant named ‘Fisco Deepsalm’, characterized by its relatively compact, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; rounded growth habit; freely branching and freely flowering habit; large medium green-colored foliage; large salmon orange-colored flowers with red-colored centers; and flowers that are positioned above or beyond the foliage.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Fisco Deepsalm’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fisco Deepsalm’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany and Galdar, Canary Islands,Spain. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compactImpatiens cultivars that flower relatively early and have attractiveflower coloration.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor during the summer of 2000 in Hillscheid, Germany of theImpatiens hawkeri cultivar Kimali, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.14,033, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofImpatiens hawkeri identified as code number K00-7176-1, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Fisco Deepsalm was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Galdar,Canary Islands, Spain in April, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in Galdar,Canary Islands, Spain since September, 2001, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fisco Deepsalm’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Fisco Deepsalm’ as a new and distinctImpatiens cultivar:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded        plant habit; rounded growth habit.    -   2. Freely branching and freely flowering habit.    -   3. Large medium green-colored foliage.    -   4. Large salmon orange-colored flowers with red-colored centers.    -   5. Flowers that are positioned above or beyond the foliage.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar Kimali. In side-by-side comparisons conducted bythe Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiensdiffered from plants of the cultivar Kimali in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were shorter than plants of the        cultivar Kimali.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had slightly smaller flowers than        plants of the cultivar Kimali.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the cultivar Kimali differed        in flower color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor inHillscheid, Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens had larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and the male parent selection        differed in flower color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Fisnics Dark Salmon, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,232.In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid,Germany, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of thecultivar Fisnics Dark Salmon in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were smaller than plants of the        cultivar Fisnics Dark Salmon.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had lighter green-colored leaves        than plants of the cultivar Fisnics Dark Salmon.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens had lighter-colored flowers than        plants of the cultivar Fisnics Dark Salmon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Impatiens. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Fisco Deepsalm’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Fisco Deepsalm has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, under commercialproduction practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Rooted young plantswere planted in 12-cm containers and the aforementioned photograph andfollowing observations and measurements were taken about three monthslater. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were about16° C. to 20° C. and night temperatures were about 16° C. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Fisco Deepsalm.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Kimali, disclosed            in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,033.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri            identified as code number K00-7176-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 10 days at 24° C.            Winter: About 12 to 15 days at 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Summer: About 15 days at            24° C. Winter: About 18 to 20 days at 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; 159A in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Relatively compact, outwardly spreading            and uniformly mounded plant growth habit; low and rounded            growth habit; freely branching habit; bushy appearance;            freely flowering. Low vigor.        -   Crop time.—From a rooted cutting, about nine to ten weeks            are required to produce finished flowering plants in 12-cm            containers.        -   Plant height.—About 9.7 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 19.8 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: About six. Length:            About 4 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Internode            length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: 185B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Primarily in whorls.            Length: About 11.4 cm. Width: About 4.3 cm. Shape: Elliptic.            Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Serrulate with            ciliation. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            slightly rugose; glabrous. Color: Developing foliage, upper            surface: 137A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 137B.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Between, including            137A and 139A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 138B.            Venation, upper surface: 185D. Venation, lower surface:            185B. Petiole: Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: 185C. Color, lower surface: 185A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single, large and rounded            flowers. Freely and continuously flowering; usually about            six to nine flowers and flower buds per lateral branch.            Flowers positioned above or beyond the foliage; flowers            typically face parallel to the leaf canopy. Petals not            persistent; gynoecium persistent. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions.            Early flowering habit; plants begin flowering about nine            weeks after planting.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: 52A.        -   Flower length.—About 7 cm.        -   Flower width.—About 6.7 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Five per flower, imbricate. Length: Banner            petals: About 3.3 cm. Lateral and base petals: About 3.4 cm            to 3.6 cm. Width: Banner petal: About 5.5 cm. Lateral            petals: About 3.2 cm. Base petals: About 3.8 cm. Shape:            Cordate. Apex: Moderately lobed; emarginate. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Nearly flat to slightly            concave. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; satiny.            Color: When opening, upper surface: 40A. When opening, lower            surface: 52A. Fully opened, upper surface: 40C to 40D            overlain with 43B; towards the base, 46B; color becoming            closer to 32C with development. Fully opened, lower surface:            52B.        -   Spur.—Quantity: One per flower. Length: About 6.5 cm.            Diameter: At apex: About 0.5 mm. At flower: About 3 mm.            Aspect: Curved. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 53B to            53C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong, flexible.            Color: 182A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Five fused            at anthers, hooded; filaments free. Anther length: About 5            mm to 6 mm. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther color: 46C. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 8D. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 5 mm to 6 mm.            Stigma color: 158A. Style color: 158A. Ovary: Five-celled.            Ovary color: 137A; with development, 147A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens.-   Low temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been    observed to tolerate night temperatures of 5° C. with 10° C. day    temperatures.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named‘Fisco Deepsalm’, as illustrated and described.